BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO — Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, presented a bill for the creation of new area councils before the state House of Assembly.

Presenting the bill, the governor said the Local Government Area Council Creation Committee headed by former Speaker of the state assembly, Professor Mojeed Alabi did a great job by scrutinising requests received for area councils.

He added that after Professor Alabi submitted the committee’s report, a review panel headed by the Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti also examined it and came up with suggestions.

Aregbesola added that the existing local government areas are too large, making governance largely ineffective, the situation he said must be reversed.

He said the bill proposes 27 new Local Council Development Areas which will co-exist with the 30 local government areas and Ife East Area Office, Modakeke recognised by the constitution.

He added that parliamentary system of government was being proposed in the new local councils, whereby the party with the majority seat will elect the chairman of the area council.

According to him, the administrative head of area council will be called Council Manager, while funds accruable to the present councils areas will be shared with the proposed ones.

In his speech, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, who commended the governor, said the initiative was yet another development outposts at the grassroots.